Wider audit ordered of UW System payroll, benefits

MADISON, Wis. - Citing a lack of oversight and a pattern of mismanagement, state legislators have ordered a broader audit of the University of Wisconsin System payroll and benefits processing.

The Joint Legislative Audit Committee ordered an audit by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau. A recent routine audit by the state found the UW System made $33 million in overpayments for health insurance premiums and pension contributions over the past two years.

The state audit also raised questions about the extent of other problems in payroll and benefit processing, including broader concerns about management and oversight that have been raised in previous audits.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ( http://bit.ly/W08wyc) says the overpayments happened during a transition to a new Human Resource System in 2011. System President Kevin Reilly told lawmakers Tuesday that there were "glitches" when the new processing system went online.